Evaluating Dental Residents in a Community Outreach Program

Objective: The purpose of this project is: (i) to describe the structure of a Community Dental Outreach Program in Upstate New York, (ii) to evaluate the clinical performance of general and pediatric dentistry residents in the Outreach Program in FY 2004-2005. Method: The Eastman Dental Center Outreach Program provides dental care to under-served and socio-economically disadvantaged individuals in Rochester inner city and neighboring areas. Dental residents complete mandatory rotations at 7 different outreach sites, which are in federally designated health professional shortage areas. Quantitative method was used to evaluate the clinical performance of residents. A logic model, which provides a framework of program expectations and outcomes, has been used as per CDC guidelines for program evaluation. Clinic utilization reports for FY 2004-2005 provided a summary of procedures according to ADA procedure codes. Results: In FY 2004-2005, twenty four Advanced Education in General Dentistry(AEGD), eight General Practice Residency(GPR) and six Pediatric Dentistry residents completed their rotations in the Outreach Program. The demographic distribution of patients is as follows: 27% adults and 73% children; 46% males and 54% females; by race and ethnicity: 32% Caucasian, 52% African American, 15% Hispanic, and 1% Asian. The distribution of visits includes 87% Medicaid, 9% self pay and 4% privately insured. AEGD and GPR residents provided 1061 and 220 diagnostic, 167 and 160 preventive, 1150 and 376 restorative, 659 and 88 oral surgery patient visits respectively. Pediatric Dentistry residents performed 694 diagnostic, 460 preventive, 1415 restorative, 138 pulpotomies, 205 crowns, 203 oral surgery and 71 nitrous oxide patient visits. Conclusion: Overall, residents provided oral health care for over 2940 children and adults who would otherwise not have received care. The Outreach Program provides an excellent opportunity for dental residents to be exposed to a diverse population and helps to train, educate and improve their clinical skills.